As Baltimore held its annual Pride Weekend, Baltimore Mayor Jack Young signed a gender-neutral bathroom bill into law. The measure requires that single occupancy restrooms will be accessible to all regardless of gender and that signs are clearly posted.
It’s intended to provide safe bathroom space for members of the transgender community and anyone else as well. Mayor Young signed the bill Saturday afternoon on the Pride Main Stage at Charles and 24th streets. Under the new law, public bathrooms with only one stall with the proper gender inclusive signage will be available to anyone starting after 90-days.
The legislation was sponsored by Council member Zeke Cohen. “A few months ago, the City Council passed a resolution in support of [Baltimore] City Schools policy JBB,” said Cohen. “That policy was passed by the School Board of Commissioners. When we introduced that resolution, we said that we would not ask the Baltimore City Schools to do something we wouldn’t do ourselves as a city.” Cohen said this bill—making all publicly accessible, single occupancy restrooms in the City of Baltimore –gender inclusive is one step closer to fulfilling that commitment.